Bus operator accused of smuggling gutka into Pune

According to the crime branch, FDA and police have seized Vimal Pan Masala, Rajnigandha Pan Masala, V-1 Chewing Tobacco amounting to more than Rs 25 lakh from two luxury buses 'UP 75 AT 4677' and 'UP 75 AT 4678', owned by Indore-based bus operator Hans Travel.

PUNE: Gutka worth more than Rs 25 lakh was seized from two luxury buses which were on their way from Indore to Pune. The seizure was made on the intervening night of Wednesday-Thursday by the officials of FDA and Pune police crime branch.

According to the crime branch, FDA and police have seized Vimal Pan Masala, Rajnigandha Pan Masala, V-1 Chewing Tobacco amounting to more than Rs 25 lakh from two luxury buses 'UP 75 AT 4677' and 'UP 75 AT 4678', owned by Indore-based bus operator Hans Travel.

The accused were identified as Kisan Murari Gupta of Indore and Shrikant Chandekar, a resident of Vadgaon Mawal. The police have also booked the bus staff, who were identified as Shabir Khan, Sunny Mavand, Hemendrakumar Sarathe, Shahrukh Shaikh.

Formal samples were drawn and stock was kept in office godown and seized vehicles were kept in safe custody of Nigdi police station.